TANNER HELPS HOUSE COLLEAGUES HONOR
MEMBERS OF THE 101ST AND THEIR FAMILIES

Congressman John Tanner praised the House of Representatives for passing a resolution Monday that honors the men and women of the 101^st Airborne Division, based at Fort Campbell, a portion of which he represents in the House of Representatives.

The resolution, which passed the House 378-0, was co-sponsored by all nine members of Tennessee’s House delegation.

Tanner made the following remarks in the Congressional Record as part of the debate on the resolution. 

MR. TANNER of TENNESSEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1080, a resolution honoring the extraordinary service and sacrifice of the Screaming Eagles of the 101^st Airborne Division of the United States Army and their families. I am proud to represent in this chamber a portion of Fort Campbell, where the Screaming Eagles are based.

This resolution is especially timely as soldiers from the 101^st Airborne Division are currently deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. In April, Major General Jeffrey Schloesser, who commands the Screaming Eagles, took over as the senior U.S. commander in Afghanistan. Under General Schloesser, the 101^st Airborne Division took over command of Regional Command East, an area comprised of 14 provinces in eastern Afghanistan. At the same time, three Brigade Combat Teams from the 101^st Airborne Division are serving in Iraq. Many of the soldiers have been deployed multiple times in Afghanistan and Iraq, some of those deployments under the command of General David Petraeus, now the Commander of U.S. Central Command.

One need only look at the history of the Screaming Eagles to understand the legacy of the 101^st Airborne Division. Originally activated during World War I, the Screaming Eagles would go on to serve in World War II, Vietnam, and Desert Storm, along with their most recent deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq.

During World War II, the soldiers of the 101^st Airborne Division would have the distinction of being the first Americans to land in France as part of the D-Day invasion. Nearly 60 years later, the Screaming Eagles became the first conventional unit to deploy in the Global War on Terror; participated in Operation Anaconda, a tough early battle in Afghanistan; and help lead the invasion into Iraq.

Madam Speaker, thank you for joining us today to honor the 101^st Airborne Division, the men and women who have earned their place in history. They and their families will be in our thoughts and prayers as they continue to serve with distinction.

Tanner represents Tennessee’s 8^th Congressional district in West and Middle Tennessee. A veteran of the U.S. Navy and the Tennessee Army National Guard, Tanner serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and as chairman of the U.S. delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the legislative arm of the NATO alliance.

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Contact: Randy Ford, 202.225.4714